RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 307, 25 July 1868, Page 4

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Friday, July 24. (Before J. Giles Esqr., R.M.) CRUELTY TO A DOG. William Evans who had beenbrougTit up on Wednesday last on the above charge, and remanded, was charged with cruelty of a wanton kind to a dog on Tuesday last. On defendant being first brought up, the Magistrate had doubts as to his powers, and the case was adjourned in consequence. It appeared that the statute in reference to cruelty to animals was in force in New Zealand, and the penalty on conviction is of a very heavy kind, not less than £5 nor more thau £SO, and the case was proceeded with. From the evidence it appeared that

defendant was intoxicated at the time, and that his treatment of the unfortunate animal was brutal in the extreme. He was fined £5, with the alternative of fourteen days imprisonment, with hard labor. OBSTRUCTING THE FOOTPATH. Mr C. Brown, for obstructing the footpath, by allowing several cases of goods to remain there, after being warned by the police, was fined 10s. A civil case arising out of this, in which the defendant summoned Constable Neville for goods that he had taken away as they were not removed in time, was withdrawn, Mr Brown receiving back his goods after the previous judgment had been given.